Album Reviews

This Capitol release features an extraordinarily pure, tactile orchestral recording and a solo violin recording of equal sonic stature.

Milstein’s reading of the weepy, dramatic Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto throws in every imaginable bell, whistle and cheap trill in a masterful performance that had me thinking of Jimi Hendrix’s dexterity. It’s a veritable schmaltz-fest suitable for a 1950’s Catskill Mountains hotel ballroom performance and I loved every teary-eyed second of it.

In fact, Milstein’s reading made me think of how cool a remake would be with a guitar replacing the violin. Maybe Steve Vai or Jeff Beck doing the solo turn. How cool would (might) that be?

Even if you don’t know the piece, you probably do and will recognize it once it begins. I saw a recent stripped down performance of it by a young Dutch woman, Janine Jensen, with Maazel conducting the New York Philharmonic and the differences couldn’t be more profound.

Jensen made the piece more acceptable in a modern, sleek context but Milstein’s pulling out all the stops rendering is ear-poppingly amazing, aided by an astounding recording, and I don’t use that word lightly.

I don’t want to get into a pissing contest with Heifetz lovers over which performance is better, but one thing’s for sure: the Capitol sound is far better than the “Living Stereo” issue, which, by the way, is far better on Classic’s reissue than the boxy original.

The Gray/Pincus remastering is superb. I haven't heard an original.

Highest recommendation for both music and sound! You’ll weep, you’ll plotz and you’ll listen often. Don’t miss this!